MGB DIY Late MGB Mud Shield

[Joe Reed]

When I got my '78 MGB it was missing the mud shield between the radiator and the engine. That's not at all unusual since the original was made from some kind of oiled cardboard....and most don't seem to have survived. Back then, I don't believe replacements were available...I'm pretty sure it was before the black plastic one from Moss was available. I didn't see any reason why I couldn't fashion one out of some sheet aluminum from Lowe's. So I did...

[FONT=arial,helvetica][FONT=arial,helvetica]Making a template from scratch with no idea of the original dimensions proved to be difficult so I coerced someone to[/FONT] mail me his old, beat up, original cardboard splash panel (in an empty beer carton, of course!) to use for a template pattern.[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica][FONT=arial,helvetica] Here's the original after being separated into it's two component pieces. Highly specialized template repair tape was used to reattach the severed appendages ...

[/FONT][/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica]This is the completed template (taped together for a trial fitting) - in corrugated cardboard. For the finished product, I substituted .025" aluminum sheet for the cardboard, and stainless rivets for the tape...

[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica]Here's what a RB car looks like without the splash panel. That dirty gray area in the middle of the photo is my garage floor as seen from through the 'Bs engine compartment...

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[FONT=arial,helvetica][FONT=arial,helvetica]Here's the template installed - you'll just have to imagine what it'll look like in aluminum instead of cardboard. That patch on the right side is a modification I made from the original. The hole for the radiator hose was WAY too big on the original (probably to keep the heat away from the cardboard). I made it fit closer - and glued a section of small rubber hose to the edge of the opening to protect the radiator hose...[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica]Steps 2 & 3 compete: took the rough cardboard template and transferred it to paper, so I could fold it in half and be sure the templates are symmetrical. Next those fine-tuned paper templates were stuck onto some foam board and the final templates cut out. Next up - transferring the design onto aluminum! The templates are upside down - that why the radiator hole is on the wrong side in the photo...

[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica]OK, here's serial #0001 during it's trial fit. Rivets replaced the golf tees during final assembly. The top part was already trial fit to my car. The only real question mark now was how well the hole at the bottom would line up to the hole in the crossmember. About all that's left at this point was to polish out scratches made during fabrication before riveting it together...[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica]Here's what it looks like installed. I added the MG radio blanking plate logo to dress it up a bit. If I can do this, anyone can! No special skills or tools are needed - and it's cheaper than the plastic one that you can buy. A bending brake would be nice, but I just made the bends over the edge of the workbench cave man style...

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